Volume IV Special Issue VI August 2024

Name of Author : Poorvi Garg

Title of the paper : Navigating In-Betweenness: Diasporic Consciousness in Jhumpa Lahiris The Namesake

Abstract: The research paper delves into the nuanced representation of diasporic consciousness in Jhumpa Lahiris The Namesake. Through the lives of Ashoke, Ashima, and Gogol Ganguli, Lahiri vividly portrays the struggles of first- and second-generation immigrants as they navigate the cultural tensions between their Bengali heritage and the socio-cultural environment of Massachusetts. Central themes such as alienation, identity crisis, memory, and nostalgia are explored. The paper highlights the in-betweenness that defines the immigrant experience where characters are caught between two worlds and unable to fully embrace either as home. Lahiris narrative offers a profound commentary on the immigrant experience and illuminates the complex journey of cultural assimilation, the persistence of nostalgia, and the deep-seated identity crises that emerge within diasporic communities. By examining these themes, the paper provides a deeper understanding of the diasporic predicament and its impact on identity formation in a globalized world. Also, the paper underscores the importance of diasporic literature in capturing the diverse and often painful experiences of individuals as immigrants.

Keywords : Immigrants, Displacement, Identity crisis, Alienation, Nostalgia.

DOI :

Page Number : 133-136